Does Folic Acid Make You Hungry?

Does Folic Acid Make You Hungry?

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Katie Stone - Naturopath

Written By:

Katie Stone - Naturopath
Kari Asadorian - BSN, RN

Medical Reviewer:

Kari Asadorian - BSN, RN
Dr. Nare Simonyan - PhD Pharmaceutical Science

Edited By:

Dr. Nare Simonyan - PhD Pharmaceutical Science
Last updated:

What Is Folic Acid?

Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate (vitamin B9) that is commonly added to fortified foods and dietary supplements. It is a synthetic, fully oxidized “starter” form of vitamin B9 that the body must convert into active folate (methylfolate).

The Impact Of Folic Acid On Appetite

Previous studies regarding children with ADHD have shown that medication commonly results in reduced appetite (around 80% of children on ADHD medication). 1 Poor appetite may lead to micronutrient deficiency, particularly in iron and folate.2 It has been suggested that folic acid supplementation may improve reduced appetite in these children, as it is required for DNA synthesis of cells lining the gut,  where the synthesis and secretion of hormones that influence appetite are regulated.


A 2018 study involving 70 children with ADHD aged 6-12 showed that adding 5 mg/day folic acid to their medication helped to restore appetite. All children were treated with methylphenidate for eight weeks, but only half were also given folic acid (5mg/day).

While all children showed loss of appetite due to the medication over the first four weeks, those taking folic acid showed improved appetite between weeks 4-8. The researchers concluded that the folic acid enhanced the diminished appetite caused by the methylphenidate medication, although there was no effect on weight or symptoms.3

A 2022 systematic review and meta‑analysis found that folic acid supplementation in adults did lead to a small decrease in BMI, but only in those who already had elevated homocysteine levels (≥15 μmol/L) and in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). While the study authors were uncertain as to why this occurred, other research has shown that high homocysteine may affect metabolic function and vascular health, as well as increasing inflammation and insulin resistance.4

MTHFR And Appetite

Research into the link between the MTHFR genetic mutation and its impact on appetite is limited. Some research has suggested that folate deficiency may lead to loss of appetite and weight loss.5

Some sources have suggested that MTHFR mutations may increase risk of weight gain, and clinical research has confirmed a higher prevalence of obesity in people with MTHFR variants.
A 2023 study found that the MTHFR C677T variant was associated with higher BMI and greater risk of obesity in people who also had high homocysteine and low folate and B12, likely due to oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and methylation impairments that promoted insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. However, appetite was not a factor.6

Other studies have concluded that MTHFR does not necessarily cause obesity.7
It should also be noted that the MTHFR mutation is very common (around 70-80% of the population has at least some form).8 Being overweight or obese is also common in certain populations. 

A 2016 study involving rats found that high intake of folic acid alongside a high‑fat diet increased weight gain and fat mass without increasing food intake. While this was not linked to appetite, the researchers suggested that the higher folic acid intake led to more efficient fat storage and adipose tissue inflammation.9

How To Increase Appetite

If folate deficiency causes loss of appetite, the first course of action should be to treat the deficiency. Supplementation with methylfolate is often preferred over folic acid because it is the active form of folate and does not require further conversion. Methylfolate is immediately available for use in the body without requiring the MTHFR enzyme, which makes it ideal for those with genetic variants.10

If folate deficiency is confirmed, consultation with a healthcare professional is advised before taking any supplement. 

Does Folic Acid Make You Hungry?

Key takeaways

  • Icon Some research has suggested that folic acid may improve appetite in children taking ADHD medication, but this usually follows the appetite suppressant effects of the medication.
  • Icon Anecdotal evidence indicates that folic acid may affect appetite, but this has not been confirmed in studies.
  • Icon The MTHFR gene mutation has been linked to higher risk of obesity, but not necessarily due to increased appetite.

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  • High-Dose L Methylfolate 15 Mg for Natural Mood Support²
  • 3rd-Party Tested for Purity, Potency & Safety
  • 90 Vegan, Non-GMO, Chewable Mint Tablets

Frequently Asked Questions About Folic Acid And Appetite

Does folic acid make you hungry?

No, folic acid does not generally “make you hungry”. However, some previous research has suggested that folic acid may improve appetite in children taking the central nervous system stimulant methylphenidate, which reduces appetite when taken alone.

How do you feel when you start taking folic acid?

If you have low folate levels when you start taking folic acid, and you do not have a folate metabolic impairment, you may feel better once your folate levels start to improve. However, everyone responds to folic acid differently, and some people may experience side effects such as nausea, loss of appetite, bloating, gas, and other gastrointestinal effects.

What are the common side effects of folic acid?

Folic acid can cause side effects in different people depending on their own metabolic function, health conditions, and the dosage. High-dose folic acid may cause gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, bloating, gas, and other discomfort.

Will I lose weight if I take folic acid?

Folic acid has not been shown to cause weight loss or change BMI. However, one meta‑analysis found that folic acid supplementation reduced BMI in people who already had elevated homocysteine, and in women who had PCOS.

References

  1. Daryl Efron, Nadia Coscini; "Pharmacological management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents"; Australian prescriber; 2025 Oct

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12566444/

  2. Mahshid Namdari, Alireza Abadi, S Mahmoud Taheri, Mansour Rezaei, Naser Kalantari, Nasrin Omidvar; "Effect of folic acid on appetite in children: ordinal logistic and fuzzy logistic regressions"; Nutrition; 2014 Mar

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24484678/

  3. Forough Riahi, Ashraf Tashakori, Ghazal Salehi Vanani; "Effects of Folic Acid on Appetite in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treated with Methylphenidate: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial"; Iranian journal of medical sciences; 2018 Jan

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5776000/

  4. Xuan Zhang, Yuan-Yuan Qu, Lian Liu, Ya-Nan Qiao, Hao-Ran Geng, Yan Lin, Wei Xu, Jing Cao, Jian-Yuan Zhao; "Homocysteine inhibits pro-insulin receptor cleavage and causes insulin resistance via protein cysteine-homocysteinylation"; Cell reports; 2021 Oct

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34644569/

  5. Lorena Carboni; "Active Folate Versus Folic Acid: The Role of 5-MTHF (Methylfolate) in Human Health"; Integrative medicine; 2022 Jul

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9380836/

  6. Emilia Zarembska, Klaudia Ślusarczyk, Małgorzata Wrzosek; "The Implication of a Polymorphism in the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene in Homocysteine Metabolism and Related Civilisation Diseases"; International journal of molecular sciences; 2023 Dec

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10779094/

  7. Emilia Zarembska, Klaudia Ślusarczyk, Małgorzata Wrzosek; "The Implication of a Polymorphism in the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene in Homocysteine Metabolism and Related Civilisation Diseases"; International journal of molecular sciences; 2023 Dec

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10779094/

  8. Sarah Long, Jack Goldblatt; "MTHFR genetic testing: Controversy and clinical implications"; Australian Family Physician; 2016 Apr

    https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2016/april/mthfr-genetic-testing-controversy-and-clinical-imp

  9. Karen B Kelly, John P Kennelly, Marta Ordonez, Randal Nelson, Kelly Leonard, Sally Stabler, Antonio Gomez-Muñoz, Catherine J Field, René L Jacobs; "Excess Folic Acid Increases Lipid Storage, Weight Gain, and Adipose Tissue Inflammation in High Fat Diet-Fed Rats"; Nutrients; 2016 Sep

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5083982/

  10. Enrico Ferrazzi, Giulia Tiso, Daniela Di Martino; "Folic acid versus 5- methyl tetrahydrofolate supplementation in pregnancy"; European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology; 2019 Dec

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301211520303754

Katie Stone - Naturopath

About the Author

Katie is a qualified Naturopath (BNatMed) and freelance writer from New Zealand. She specializes in all things health and wellness, particularly dietary supplements and nutrition. Katie is also a dedicated runner and has completed more half-marathons than she can count!

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